y fair lady and my love, I cry you
mercy, I will no more do so. So then Sir Tristram rode daily a-hunting
armed, and his men bearing his shield and his spear. So on a day a
little afore the month of May, Sir Tristram chased an hart passing
eagerly, and so the hart passed by a fair well. And then Sir Tristram
alighted and put off his helm to drink of that bubbly water. Right so he
heard and saw the Questing Beast come to the well. When Sir Tristram
saw that beast he put on his helm, for he deemed he should hear of Sir
Palomides, for that beast was his quest. Right so Sir Tristram saw where
came a knight armed, upon a noble courser, and he saluted him, and they
spake of many things; and this knight's name was Breuse Saunce Pite. And
right so withal there came unto them the noble knight Sir Palomides, and
either saluted other, and spake fair to other.

Fair knights, said Sir Palomides, I can tell you tidings. What is that?
said those knights. Sirs, wit ye well that King Mark is put in prison by
his own knights, and all was for love of Sir Tristram; for King Mark had
put Sir Tristram twice in prison, and once Sir Percivale delivered the
noble knight Sir Tristram out of prison. And at the last time Queen
La Beale Isoud delivered him, and went clearly away with him into this
realm; and all this while King Mark, the false traitor, is in prison. Is
this truth? said Palomides; then shall we hastily hear of Sir Tristram.
And as for to say that I love La Beale Isoud paramours, I dare make
good that I do, and that she hath my service above all other ladies, and
shall have the term of my life.

And right so as they stood talking they saw afore them where came a
knight all armed, on a great horse, and one of his men bare his shield,
and the other his spear. And anon as that knight espied them he gat his
shield and his spear and dressed him to joust. Fair fellows, said Sir
Tristram, yonder is a knight will joust with us, let see which of us
shall encounter with him, for I see well he is of the court of King
Arthur. It shall not be long or he be met withal, said Sir Palomides,
for I found never no knight in my quest of this glasting beast, but an
he would joust I never refused him. As well may I, said Breuse Saunce
Pite, follow that beast as ye. Then shall ye do battle with me, said
Palomides.

So Sir Palomides dressed him unto that other knight, Sir Bleoberis, that
was a full noble knight, nigh kin unto Sir Launcelot. And so they me